Charlie Sheen to 'killer cop': call me

LOS ANGELES: Charlie Sheen has recorded a personal video message to a former police officer suspected of killing three people, urging him to call the actor to "figure out" an end to his manhunt.

Christopher Dorner, America's most-wanted man, was last seen in the snowy mountains of a California skiing area on Thursday after declaring "war" on his former employer, the Los Angeles Police Department, in an online manifesto.

The manifesto referred to numerous celebrities including Sheen, the star of the television series Anger Management, calling him "awesome".

In his taped message, played on the celebrity website TMZ, Mr Sheen said: "Christopher Dorner, this is Charlie Sheen. You mention me in your manifesto so thank you for your kind words. I'm urging you to call me and let's figure out together how to end this thing. Call me. I look forward to talking to you."

Police officers using snowmobiles and armoured personal carriers fitted with chains were searching Big Bear Mountain, 80 miles from Los Angeles, where Mr Dorner's burned out pick-up truck was found with guns and survival equipment inside. Mr Dorner's mother owns a property 56 kilometres from the spot.

The former Navy reservist had a five-hour head start on police and they believe he may have tried to head south to Mexico. There was a heavy police presence at the border. In the Navy, Mr Dorner underwent flight training and an alert was issued to airports.

The city of Los Angeles announced a $US1 million reward for information leading to the arrest and capture of Mr Dorner.

‘‘We will not tolerate anyone undermining the security of the community,’’ Mayor Villaraigosa said at a news conference. ‘‘We will not tolerate this reign of terror.’’

Police Chief Charlie Beck said the reward was ‘‘the largest local reward ever offered to our knowledge.’’ The reason for such a significant reward, Beck said, was ‘‘not about capturing a fleeing suspect, but about preventing another crime, likely another murder.’’

‘‘This is an act of domestic terrorism,’’ Beck said of those killed and allegedly targeted by Dorner. ‘‘He has targeted those we entrust to protect the public.’’

Mr Dorner is accused of shooting dead a couple in a car park on February 3. The woman was the daughter of a retired police captain who represented him at a tribunal when he was sacked.

In a series of ambush shootings near Los Angeles on Thursday he is accused of killing one police officer and injuring two others. Mr Dorner claims he was wrongly sacked and was the victim of racism.